Valve.



A. B. WALLEM.

VALVEF APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1909. '2"9,81 v Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

3 BHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. B. WALLEM.

, VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, L909.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

mlyml ul INVENTOR ATTORNEYS A. B. WALLEM.

VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED APE. so, 190;

3 SHEETS- SHEET 3 1 1i: .n u

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

h U T HH HHHJ IWH 111., a? a i V m w IMHH IHI 1:1. I. ..i H mm 1 iiniiinn sr 'rns r rnNT Amer. 28. WALLEM, or moses; ffififiYLVAlllIA; ASSIGNOR 'ro HARRISON SAFETY BOILER wonns, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COPAR'I'NERSHIP or ENN- SYLVANIA.

VALVE.

e'zasi Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Application filed April 30, 1909. Serial No. 493,118.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, AXEL B.'WALLEM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moores, in the county of Delaware-and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves, of which-the followingis aspecification;

This. invention is directed to the provision of a valve ,of an improved construction adapted particularly for use as a relief valve'.f0r a heater, condenser, heating 'system or the like. a

The object of the invention is to provide a valve of this type so constructed that it can be relied on to operatewhen the conditions under which its operation is desired arise,

' which permits of readily adjusting the pressure at which the valve will open, which structio'n, can be manufactured at low cost.

Relief-valves for. use in the exhaust of a steam-engine system as heretofore constructed have not been satisfactory, principally for the reason that the movable valvemembers frequently stick to their seats and thus prevent the valves from opening even though the pressure at which they should open is reached or exceeded. There may be long intervals between successive operations of such a relief-valve and during this time the movable valvemember may, and often does, become stuck to its seat; and when the conditions of high back-pressure do arrive, .it

is of great importance that the .valve should operate properly to relieve them. Another objectionable characteristic of the reliefvalves heretofore used is that vibration of the moving parts 'is apt to occur, causinga disagreeable rattling noise. My invention is directed to the provision of a valve in which these objectionable features are 'not present, and one expedient which I employ to this end is the use of a plurality of independently movable valve-members any one of which may be moved to open an exhaust port and thus relieve the backressure; thus, if any one or two of these va' ve-nhembers stick to their seats, one or more of the others will still be operative'to furnish the necessary relief. These valve-members are normally held upon their seats by springs or equivalent weights and devices are providedfor regulating the tension exerted by these rality .of openings 4 therethrough. -upper surface of the plate 3 about each of the openings 4 is ground true, so as to form 'a seat for amovable. valve-member 5.

,so that all the movable valve-members may be readily raised from their seats, either simultaneously or successively, ,in. order to guard against the possibility of some of the members stickingto their seats or, if desired,

to permit of 0 rating. with the exhaust open. These an 'other featuresof improvement which are characteristic-of the valve of m invention are more fully set forth in the ollowing description referring to the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings, which illustrate valves embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the valve; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereo'f; Fig. 3 is a detail View hereinafter referred to; Fig. i is a vertical section of a modified form of valve;

Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations of further modificationsof the valve; Fig. 7 is a hori- 'zontal section of the casing of the valve shown in Fig. 4; and Figs. 8 and 9 are views illustrating further embodiments of the invention.

Referring to these drawings, 1 and 2 illustrate the lower and upper portions, respectively, of the casing of the valve, these being provided with flanges at. their adjacent ends having openings :therein to receive bolts by which the twoilportions of the casing are secured together.'--,.The lower portion 1 of the shell has a late or valve-deck 3 formed integral therewith, and this plate has a plu- The lower end of which is received in a bearin formed in the plate 3 at the center thereo At its opposite endthe shaft 8 may be retherein through At the center of ceived in a bearing 9 formed in an arm cast integral with the upper portion 2 of the casing of the valve, this arm extending 2, in which latter case the bearing ,9 may be a two-part bearing, one part being secured by suitable bolts to the other. Secured on the shaft 8 is a bevel-gear 10 meshing with a bevel-pinion 11 which is keyed on the inner end of a shaft-12. This shaft extends through an opening in shell 2 forn'xing a bearing for the shaft, and at its outer end is provided withany suitable means by which the shaft may be turned to turn the shaft 8; In Fig. 1, I have shown shaft 12 as provided with a hand-wheel I3.

Each of the movable valve-members 5 is, secured to a stem 14 which projects upwardly through an opening in the pressureplate 7.. Between the pressure-plate and each of the valve-members '5 is a spiral spring 15 adapted to press the valve-member 5 against its seat. The stem 14 of each valvei member may project through its opening in the pressure-plate 7 and have an enlarged head 16 at its upper end.

If any of the valves stick there will still .be one or more valve-members which will be raised, in order to furnish the necessary outlet for the steam or other gas and thus relieve. the pressure. In order that the pres sure at which the movable valve-members will be raised may beregulated as desired, the springs 15 for holding the'valve-inembers upon their-seats may be subjected to greater or less tension, and the means hero shown for this purpose is suchthat the tension of all of .the springs 15 may be simultaneously adjtisted- Turning the shaft 12, by means of the hand-Wheel l3 moves the pressure-plate 7 toward oraway from the plate '3, the pressure-plate 7 then sliding upon the posts 6. The pressure-plate 7 is formed. to provide means for limiting the extent to which the springs 15 may be compressed, and for this purpose isextended at some point thereon toward the plate 3, so that it will coast with the plate 3 to arrest the movement of pressure-plate 7 toward plate 3. Thus, I have showirthe central hub 17 of the pressure-plate 7, to arrest further movement of the pressure-plate when the springs 15 have beensubjected to as great a tension as it is desired theyshould ever be subjected to. By turning the hand-wheel vl3, the pressure-plate 7 maybe raised and.

in moving'thus will engage the heads 16. of the stems ofthe valve-members and further movement ofthe pressure-plate will cause the valve-members to be positively lifted from their seats.

I may provide means for stcadying ,the

may be-rc adily done by the provision of a dash-pot In connection with each of the employing such a dash-pot is illustrated in Fig. 3. In this figure, the pressure-plate 7 is shown as formed to provide a cylindrical chamber 18, and Within this, chamber is a piston 20 secured to the upper end of the stem 1%. In this form of my invention, as well as in that above described, the valvemember 5 may be loosely connected to itsv stem 14, s0 that thevalve will seat itself more accurately. For this purpose, I have shown the members 5 as loosely connected by a pin 22 to the stem let. a Y

The construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and and above described may be modified in numerous respects to adapt the valve for insertion. atsuch points in a system of steam-piping as maybe desired, and for greater convenience 1n operating the valve.

mechanism for the pressure-plate 7 located below the plate 3, instead of above it as in ,Fig. 1. For this,purpose, plate 3 is formed to provide a central bearing for the shaft 8, and the bevel-gear 10 is secured to the lower end .of shaft 8, this gear meshing with a pinion 11 as above described. A verticall disposed shaft 23 may be geared to thesha t 12 and have a hand-wheel on its lower end to permit of operating the pressure-plate 7 from a distance, as is shown in Fig. 5; or, as shown in Fig. 6, the wheel on shaft 12 may be a chain-wheel and a suitable chain 24 may be provided for operating this wheel and its shaft. The means for positively raising the valve-members 5 from their seats may be constructed as shown iii-Fig. 4, wherein the stems 25 of the valve-members 5 are rigidly secured to the pressure-plate 7 Thus, in Fig. 4 I have shown the operating movable valve-members, and a construction and extend loosely through the,valve-1nem bers' 5. These stems have heads 26 upon their lower ends, so that when pressin'e-plate 7 and stems 25 are raised, heads 26 \Vlll eni rom their seats.

As shown n Figs. 4 and 7, the exhaustage the valve-members a and lift, them.

relief-valve, as abovedescribed, may be carry ofi all of the water collecting within the casing. If desired, however, the opening for draining off the water may be above the level ofplate 3 and in the upper portion of the casing of the valve, as shown at 31 in Fig. l, and in this case a'. water-seal for the movements of the valve-members 5. This ,va'lve-members 5 will be provided.

lower portion 1 of' the shell, which will its Referring to Fig. 4:, it will be seen that adrainage systemserves to drain both,

Single the valve chamber and the chamber of the cxhausthead, and the construction is therefore simplified and made less expensive to manufacture In Fig. 8 is shown a valve ofthe :character above set forth, having an indicator and lock for the movable pressure-member such that if it is found necessary to move this member, it can be returned to the same position and the member 'canbe locked 'in any position to hold it against movement under the vibration to which the valve is usually subjected. Itwill be seen that the handle of the shaft 12 in Fig. 8 is athxed to a disk 40 havinga plurality of holes therein arranged in a circle, and a key 41 'is provided adapted to be inserted in any one of these holes and to'have its threaded end enter a threzuled opening in the shell of the valve. This hey ll will therefore hold the shaft 12 locked in the same position as that. it hadoriginally. I 1

In Fig. 5 the upper portion of the shell is 4 shown as made in'two parts, but of course this number may be increased as desired. I have shown in Fig. 8 means for facilitating withdrawal of one or more of these parts to permit inspection and adjustment of the parts within the casing. The partsSQ and 33 ot' the shell are boltee together by bolts 42 and the piping 43 leading from this p012 tion of the shell is bolted by bolts li-l to the flange 45 formed on the parts 32 and 33. i

provide screws edpassing through the flange 4C5 and engaging the corresponding flange on the pipe 43 so that when the bolts l l have been loosened, the screw 4.6 may be turned up to raise pipe slightly otlf oi flange 45. Similarly I provide screw 47 in thecoacting flanges of the par l 33, so that when I bolts 42 mini e ing these parts have been i =oved, the. screws i? may be turned up to ove one section away from the other 1. lztlv; ll hen the parts have been separated-thus, the removal of one ofthem may be readily accomplished- The lower portion 48; oi the shell' may have one or more outlet openings formed therein as shown at 49, Fig. 8, and cut-off valves may be mounted-within the shell and be movable to close or open these outlets. Such cut-off valves are shown at 50, the shafts thereof extending through bearings in the shell and having operating handles 51 thereon. In the structure shown, the steam enters at the bottom of the casing and leaves by the outlets 4:9 and the upper portion of the shell above the movable valve-member 5 'is connected to the exhaust. lVith such a structure may be combined an oil-separator built within the shell of the relief-valve, as shown at 52 in Fig. 8, located between the inlet and outlet openings. The exhausthead shown in Fig.4 may also be combined with the structure shown in ,Fig. 8, as illustrated in Fig; 9, which is like Fig. 8 in all respects except that the upper portion of the shell is bu1lt'i'n accordance with Fig. 4 to combine the exhaust-head with the exhaust relief-valve.

Having now, described in invention, what I claimas new therein an desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows A valve comprising a casing, amember said openings, a spring for each of said valve-members arranged to hold the same upon its seat, and means for regulating the tension of all of said springs simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

2. A valve comprising a casing, a member therein provided with a plurality of open ings, a plurality ofi independently-movable valve-members, each adapted to close one of said openings, a spring for actuating each of said valve-members, a pressure-member en gaging all of said springs, and means operated from outside the casing for moving said pressure-member to regulate the tension ofall of said springs, substantially as set forth.

3. A valve comprising a casing, a. member therein provided with a-plurality of openings, a plurality of independently-movable valve-members,each adapted to close one of said openings, a spring for each of said valvemembcrs arranged to hold the same.

upon its seat, n'ieans for regulating thetension' of all of said springs simultaneously, and means for positively raising said valve- .members from their seats, substantially as said sprlngs may be compressed by said reg :ulating means, substantially as set forth.

6. A valve comprising a casing, a member therein provided with a plurality of openings, a plurality of independently-movable valve-members, each adapted to close one of said openings, a spring for actuating each of said valve-members, a pressure-member engaging all-of said springs, means operated from outside the casing for moving said pressure-member and thereby raising said valve-members from their seats, and means for limiting the movement of said pressuremember, substantially as set forth.

7. A valve comprising a casing, a-member therein provided With a plurality of openin s, a plurality of independently-movable va ve-members, each adapted to close one of said openings, a dash-pot for each of said valve-members adapted to regulate the movement thereof, a spring for each of said valvemembers arranged to hold the same upon its seat, and means for adjusting the tension of all of said springs simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

8. A valve comprising a casing consisting of twoparts secured together, a plate formed integral with one of said parts and provided with. a plurality of openings, a movable valve-member for closing each of said open- 'ings, a spring for actuating each of said valve-members, a pressure-member engaging said springs, posts on said plate on which said pressure-member is movable, a shaft having a bearing in said plate, 'coacting threads on said shaft and pressure-member,

and means operated from outside the casing for rotating said shaft, substantially. asset forth.

, member and shaft, and means for 9.'The combination of a tubular member having a plate extending across the same and provided with a plurality of openings, an

exhaust head secured to said member, a plurality of independently-movable valve-members'each normally closing one of said openings, a spring actuating each of said valvemembers, a pressure-member, engaging each of said springs, a shaft having a bearing in said plate, coacting threads on said pressurerotating said shaft, substantially as set forth.

-10. The combination of a tubular member having a plate extending across the same and";

provided with a plurality of openings, a twopart shell secured upon said member, said parts being removable therefrom and from each other, a plurality of independently-movable valve-members each normally closinlg one of said-openings, a spring actuating eac of said valve-members, a pressure-member engaging all of said springs, a shaft mount-" ed for rotation upon oneof the parts of said shell, means for rotating said shaft, and

said shaft for moving and the parts coacting therewith, a. plurality of valve-members each normally closing one of said openings, of said valve-members,'a pressure-member for regulating the tension of all of said springs, a shaft, means for rotating thesame,

and means actuated by said shaft for moving said pressure-member, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of a shell having inlet and outlet openings, a plate .Within the shell extending across the same and having a plurality of openings therein, a plurality of-valve-members each normally closing one of said openings, a spring actuating each of said valve-members, a pressure-member, a shaft journaled in a bearing. in said shell and a connection between said shaft and said pressure-member for moving the latter to vary the tension of all of said springs, a

portion of said shell being removable independently of said shaft and connection to permit access to said valve-members, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of a shell having a steam inlet,'a steam outlet and an exhaust outlet, a cut-off valve for said steam outlet mounted Within the shell, means for operatextending across said shell between the steam outlet and the exhaust outlet and having a plurality of openingstherein, a valve-memer for each opening, a spring for each valve-member, and means for simultanes ously regulatingthe tension of all of said springs, substantially as set forth;

14. A valve comprising a casing, a mema spring actuating each pressure-member, substantially as set ing said valve from outside the shell, a plate ber .mounted therein provided With a plu- 'rality of openings, a plurality of independently moving valve-members each adapted to close one of said openings, a spring for each of said valve-members arranged to hold the same upon its seat, means )r regulating the tension of all of said springs simultaneously, and a lock for said regulating means, substantially as set forth.

15..v A. valve comprising a casing amem her therein rovided with a plurality of same ,upon its seat, and an indicator c0act-,

ing with said regulating means to indicate the position thereof, substantially as set forth. I

16. A valve comprising a casing, a member therein provided With a pluralityof openings, a plurality of independently movable valve-members each adapted to close one of said openings, a spring for eachof said valve-members arranged to hold the through the casing and connected to said ,pressure nember for moving the same to regulate the tension of all of said sprin means for operating said shaft, a look or holding said shaft against movement, and

means for indicating the position of said 'shaft, substantially as set-forth This specification signed and witnessed this 28th day'of April, 1909. I A AXEL -B. WALLEM.

Witnessesr W. A'rwoon MEHARG, BoBnRTG. CLIFTON.

lsame,upon its seat, a pressure-memherzengaging all of said springs, a shaft extending 

